Coronavirus Outbreak: Complete Travel Ban Imposed In China's Wuhan; WHO Holds Emergency Meet

Coronavirus causes pneumonia-like symptoms and then doesn't respond to antibiotic treatment.Chinese health authorities have confirmed that the virus can spread from human to human. India has already issued a travel alert, in this case.

Passengers wear protective masks to protect against the spread of the Coronavirus as they arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport, California, on January 22, 2020. - A new virus that has killed nine people, infected hundreds and has already reached the US could mutate and spread, China warned on January 22, as authorities urged people to steer clear of Wuhan, the city at the heart of the outbreak. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)

New Delhi: China has suspended all public transport, including flights in and out of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus as the confirmed cases climbed to 571 mostly from the city with 17 deaths so far, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus. South China Morning Post, citing state media reported that officials in Wuhan announced a complete travel ban amid a Coronavirus outbreak. The ban issued by command authority in the city said that from 10:00 am on Thursday, urban buses, subways, ferries and long-distance passenger transport would be suspended in the city. Aside from this, flights and trains departing from Wuhan will also be suspended. So far, the cases of the virus have been detected in the US, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. WHO Emergency Meeting Over Corona Outbreak: The World Health Organization (WHO) which held an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Vienna to deal with the global impact of the virus has extended the talks till Thursday to decide on whether the outbreak in China constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), like Ebola and Swine flu. Such a declaration, if made, will be seen as an urgent call for a coordinated international response in view of fears that millions of Chinese are travelling at home and abroad for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holidays starting from January 24. It said its staff in China is closely monitoring the situation. The festival triggers biggest mass migration, clogging road, rail and air networks every year. China's Health Commission which is periodically updating the steps being taken to deal with the virus said on Thursday morning that so far a total of 571 confirmed new coronavirus cases and 17 deaths in Chinese mainland. Majority of these cases are from Wuhan and surrounding areas. While India has already issued a travel alert, some of the 700 students studying medicine and other courses in around the city still stayed put while majority of them left due to holidays.